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Have you ever put together a puzzle? A 500-piece puzzle? A 1000-piece puzzle? A 10,000-piece puzzle? My job requires that I put together puzzles, but the puzzles I put together are a little different than the puzzles purchased in a store. The puzzles I put together do not display a rocket ship, a scenic mountain range or a Picasso painting, but rather a company’s vision of a desired outcome, an expected result. This is my challenge! Imagine a company as a puzzle. The puzzle is comprised of many pieces of various shapes and sizes. Each and every aspect of the company makes up a puzzle piece. Some pieces are large, have few edges, and fit together quickly. Other pieces are very small, irregularly shaped, and require more time and attention. No matter the complexity of the puzzle pieces, it is my job to evaluate each piece and determine how the pieces fit together to achieve a desired outcome, an expected result. This is my challenge! I am titled “Management Consultant”. I play many character roles in my profession. At any one time, I may assume the role of Human Resource Manager, Accountant, Chief Financial Officer or Director of Sales and Marketing. Each role I play is significant, because I gather data and make objective observations that assist me in understanding the aspects of a company, the puzzle pieces. This is my challenge! In my quest to evaluate the various puzzle pieces, I am provided opportunities to interact with staff via interviews, coaching and mentoring. These opportunities for interaction are often my greatest challenge. I am sometimes viewed as an enemy, even before I have set foot into a facility. To some, my presence creates an apprehensive environment. It is my job to transform negative perceptions into positive ones. In order to succeed, I must encourage staff input and communication. I genuinely enjoy working with staff members and am delighted when I can assist them through sharing my experiences, providing encouragement and instruction or leading by example. Informing staff of a unified focus and a directional plan often pays dividends and reduces the inevitable barricades based on uncertainty. Through a common effort, the staff and I are able to dissolve those barriers, thereby benefiting all parties. People are the resources that make things happen. It is a wonderful thing to be able to learn from those you help. This is my challenge! Every day of evaluation produces more information and provides an additional awareness as to the areas of weakness and risk. These areas are addressed, improved and monitored as the puzzle pieces take the shape of a finished product. Then finally, through time and a committed effort, there is the satisfaction of reaching the desired outcome, the expected result. And most of all, when I am told “thank you”, I know it has all been worth it. This is my challenge! To learn how we may assist you, contact The Burda Group .
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